Filipino Association for Mariners' Employment, Inc.

10/05/2026

Happy Mother's Day

10/05/2026

The ₱10,000 fine for expired Seafarer’s Identity Document (SID) and Seafarer’s Record Book (SRB) remains on hold, as seafarer training and awareness took focus during the Filipino Association for Mariners’ Employment (FAME) general membership meeting with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

Engr. Samuel Batalla, deputy administrator for planning of MARINA, clarified that the penalty remains suspended, providing guidance to manning agencies and industry members.

This means seafarers with expired SID and SRB are not currently required to pay the ₱10,000 fine, although compliance with valid documents remains necessary.

Also present was Director Augusto “Ogie” B. San Diego III of the DMW’s Sea-Based Accreditation Bureau, who emphasized the need for seafarers to stay aware of the risks associated with their profession.

He also called on licensed manning agencies to strengthen training efforts and ensure seafarers are regularly updated on policies and industry developments.

The meeting, held at the Diamond Hotel Ballroom, brought together regulators and industry leaders to discuss ongoing policy and workforce concerns in the maritime sector.

06/05/2026

30/04/2026

All FAME members are invited to the attend the 1st FAME General Membership Meeting, which is scheduled on 05 May 2026 (Tuesday), 12:00 p.m., at the Ballroom of Diamond Hotel.

Please refer to FAME Memo-Circular No. 034-26 : NOTICE OF 1ST FAME GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING – 05 MAY 2026 for the official notice of meeting.

For confirmation, please contact the FAME Secretariat at tel. nos. 8524-9892 / 7000-1532 / 8697-1062 or via email at [email protected].

24/04/2026

The Filipino Association for Mariners’ Employment, Inc. (FAME), represented by Mr. Michael J. Estaniel, delivered a message during the second day of the MVAAP Convention held on 24 April 2026 at the Diamond Hotel Philippines.

In his statement, he expressed FAME’s support for MVAAP and called on the government, industry stakeholders, and legal practitioners to work together in upholding the rights and welfare of seafarers, while ensuring fair and balanced legal processes.

23/04/2026

See you all FAME runners on 20 June 2026 at Amphitheater, Parqal, Aseana City, Parañaque

16/04/2026

Happening Now: The Filipino Association for Mariners' Employment, Inc. (FAME) participates as panelist and supporting organization in the 6th Safety4Sea Manila Forum 2026, held on 16 April 2026 at the Sheraton Manila Hotel.

Mr. Michael J. Estaniel, FAME VP for Internal Affairs, represented FAME during the panel discussion on the topic Human Factors in the New Maritime Landscape.

14/04/2026

When we talk about the global supply chain, we talk about Chinese mega-factories, Amazon warehouses, and American consumer spending.

But almost no one talks about the people actually driving the boats.

Welcome to the ultimate macroeconomic chokehold.

Right now, roughly 90% of all global trade—your iPhone, your crude oil, your cars, and your food—is moved by sea. And an estimated 25% of all the merchant mariners on Earth are Filipino. There are roughly 400,000 Filipino seafarers operating the engine rooms, navigating the bridges, and maintaining the massive cargo ships that keep the global economy from collapsing.

This is an absolutely unprecedented level of global leverage.

If the United States Navy parks a ship, one military loses power. If Filipino seafarers went on a sudden, synchronized global strike, the entire planet would freeze. Cargo ships would be stranded in the Panama Canal. Oil tankers would sit idle in the Persian Gulf. Global retail would run out of inventory in two weeks.

The Philippines doesn't own the cargo, and they don't own the ships. But they have achieved a complete monopoly on the human capital required to run the ocean.

Yet, despite holding the keys to the global economy, these seafarers are currently facing an existential threat. The European Union has repeatedly threatened to ban Filipino sailors, citing that local maritime academies are failing to meet international training standards.

The Philippines has built the ultimate geopolitical weapon, but they are critically underfunding the schools required to keep it.

10/04/2026

SAVE THE DATE!

17th FAME Fun Run

20 June 2026 at Parqal, ASEANA City, Parañaque

The Filipino Association for Mariners Employment Inc. (FAME) will hold the 17th FAME Fun Run on June 20, 2026 at Parqal, Aseana City, Parañaque, gathering seafarers, maritime students, industry partners, and their families for a community event centered on health, resilience, and maritime solidarity.

The event forms part of FAME’s broader “Go Marino Go Healthy Body Healthy Mind” campaign, which promotes wellness and active living within the maritime sector. For this year’s run, the association highlights the theme Fit for Duty Fit for Life, underscoring the importance of physical fitness and mental well being among seafarers whose profession requires endurance, discipline, and sound decision making.

As one of the world’s leading providers of maritime labor, the Philippines continues to rely on the strength and professionalism of Filipino seafarers. Initiatives such as the FAME Fun Run aim to reinforce the message that maintaining health on shore is essential to ensuring safety, performance, and readiness at sea.

Participants may choose among 3 kilometer, 5 kilometer, and 10 kilometer race categories, making the event accessible to both casual runners and experienced athletes. The activity is expected to draw participants from across the maritime community, including active seafarers, maritime cadets, maritime professionals, and supporters of the industry.

With Aseana City serving as venue partner, the event will take place at Parqal, a modern urban development in Parañaque known for hosting large scale community and lifestyle events.

Now on its seventeenth year, the FAME Fun Run continues to serve as a platform for strengthening camaraderie within the maritime sector while encouraging healthier lifestyles among those who keep global trade moving.

For inquiries and participation details, interested participants may contact the organizers at 7000 1532 or 8524 7337, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. Updates will also be available through the official page of the Filipino Association for Mariners Employment Inc.